SA Rugby boss lauds World Rugby Awards winners

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander has congratulated Springboks Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende and Malcolm Marx as well as former Bok wing Bryan Habana and former referee Tappe Henning for their recognition at Sunday night’s World Rugby Awards in Monaco.

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Am and De Allende have formed a formidable midfield combination for the Springboks in the last few seasons, which included the triumphant 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Unfortunately for the Springboks, Am – who was also nominated for the World Rugby Player of the Year award – suffered a season-ending knee injury in August, but he will look to return to this fine form with an eye on next year’s Rugby World Cup in France.

Marx, meanwhile, has been a stalwart from the Springboks, making his presence felt in the lineouts, at the rucks and in general play thanks to his hard running on attack, solid defence, and ability to cross the tryline.

Am and Marx were included in the World Rugby Dream Team for the second successive year.

Ireland, with four players in the Dream Team, had the biggest representation in the composite side, followed by South Africa with three.

New Zealand, England and France each have two players in the team, while Australia and Argentina provided one each.

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Habana, who played 124 Tests for the Springboks and scored 67 tries between 2004 to 2016, received the International Rugby Players Special Merit Award for setting a benchmark for what it means to serve the game beyond the pitch.

Henning, who was a top Test referee between 1995 and 2005 and has been actively working with match officials in both South Africa and Scotland and more recently leading the way in the United Rugby Championship, earned the World Rugby Referee Award for his integral role in refereeing and its development in the professional and amateur game for more than 20 years.

“We are very proud of these men and their achievements at the World Rugby awards,” said SA Rugby president said.

“This awards ceremony celebrates the cream of the crop in the game of rugby, and to have five South Africans feature in the respective categories is a massive feather in our cap and in it shows the class of those individuals both on and off the field.”

“It was equally pleasing to have two players, Am and Springbok Women’s wing Nomawethu Mabenge nominated for two of the biggest awards, World Rugby Player of the Year and International Women’s Try of the Year respectively, and it shows the calibre of the players within our system.

“The 2023 season is building up to be quite monumental for South Africa with the Rugby World Cup in France, and we certainly hope to see our players again making their presence felt as the Springboks attempt to defend their title.”

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World Rugby Men’s 15s Dream Team of the Year:

15 Freddie Steward (England), 14 Will Jordan (New Zealand), 13 Lukhanyo Am (South Africa), 12 Damian de Allende (South Africa), 11 Marika Koroibete (Australia), 10 Johnny Sexton (Ireland), 9 Antoine Dupont (France), 8 Gregory Alldritt (France), 7 Josh van der Flier (Ireland), 6 Pablo Matera (Argentina), 5 Sam Whitelock (New Zealand), 4 Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), 3 Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), 2 Malcolm Marx (South Africa), 1 Ellis Genge (England).

Full list of World Rugby Awards winners

• World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year – Ruahei Demant (New Zealand)
• World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year – Josh van der Flier (Ireland)
• World Rugby Coach of the Year – Wayne Smith (New Zealand Women’s 15s)
• World Rugby Men’s Breakthrough Player of the Year – Ange Capuozzo (Italy)
• World Rugby Women’s Breakthrough Player of the Year – Ruby Tui (New Zealand)
• World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year – Terry Kennedy (Ireland)
• World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year – Charlotte Caslick (Australia)
• World Rugby Referee Award – Tappe Henning (South Africa)
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service – Dr Farah Palmer (New Zealand)
• International Rugby Players Special Merit Award – Bryan Habana (South Africa)
• International Rugby Players Men’s Try of the Year – Rodrigo Fernandez (Chile, v USA on 9 July)
• International Rugby Players Women’s Try of the Year – Abby Dow (England, v Canada on 5 November)